Opinion: Ante up – Poker company offers more than meets the eye (The West Georgian, 02/06/08 – GA)“We all know, thanks to Chazz Michael Michaels, that “nighttime is a very dark time.” However, for a growing number of UWG students, local residents, and local business owners, nighttime has become a time for Texas Hold ‘em. Ante-Up Texas Hold ‘em to be exact. Wait! Isn’t gambling illegal in Georgia? Okay, okay, calm down stickler. If this were gambling, it would indeed be a problem. However, Ante-Up is free.”

NBA Sinks $330,000 Into Lobbying (Houston Chronicle, 02/06/08 – DC)“The National Basketball Association paid McGuirewoods Consulting $280,000 in the second half of 2007, passing a total of $330,000 to the lobbying firm for the year. The firm lobbied Congress on federal decency guidelines, according to a form filed online Monday by the Senate’s public records office. NBA also lobbied to preserve the ban on sports gambling and to “strengthen prohibition against Internet gambling.”

Teen poker millionaire warns: stay away from game (CTV, 02/05/08)“Newly minted 18-year-old millionaire Mike McDonald has a warning for casual poker players who are thinking about ditching school or work to get rich quick: don’t. It’s a message gambling addiction experts are applauding with a heavy sigh of relief. They expect McDonald’s stunning US$1.4-million win at a poker tournament in Germany will legitimize the fantasies of teenagers and poker players who think they too can drop everything and make a successful, lucrative career out of playing cards.”

blog:Preventing Online Poker a Matter of “National Security” (Reason, 02/05/08)“Strangely, the federal government also refused to release the terms of the settlement. So Ed Brayton filed a FOIA request with the U.S. Trade Office to release the terms of the settlement. They responded this week. They have refused to disclose the details “in the interests of national security.”

press release:PurePlay Announces Cash Prize Online Poker Tournament With No Entry Fee (PurePlay, 02/06/08)“Our $10,000 Classic Tournament is unique because it’s absolutely free to participate, and players can qualify against people at their own skill level,” said Jason Kellerman, PurePlay CEO. “This is an exciting opportunity for players to experience the intensity of playing for large cash prizes, but, as always with PurePlay, there’s no risk of losing money.”